Not sure how long should you stay sedentary after a hard run? Follow these golden rules. . .
If you performed a difficult workout, a day or two of rest combined with very light exercise should be sufficient.
A race is a different story: Divide the number of miles in the race in half and use this as a benchmark for the number of days you should keep your running shoes in the closet.
Remember, every person is different, so listen to your body. You will know you are ready to run when you no longer feel muscle soreness, fatigue, imbalance or tightness.